The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

with his arrows the king, that greatest of car-warriors
in the whole world. Then commenced a battle between
those two. Both shooting keen arrows and both
aiming countless shafts, each of those mighty car-warriors
made the other invisible in that battle. And Satyaki,
pierced by the Kuru king, looked exceedingly resplendent
as blood copiously ran adown his body, like a sandal
tree shedding its juicy secretions. Thy son also
pierced by Satwata with clouds of shafts, looked beautiful
like a stake set up (at a sacrifice) decked all over
with gold. Then Madhava, O king, in that battle,
cut off with razor-faced arrow, smiling the while,
the bow of the Kuru king. And then he pierced
the bowless king with countless arrows. Pierced
with arrows by that foe of great activity, the king
could not brook this indication of the enemy’s
success. Duryodhana then, taking up another formidable
bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold,
speedily pierced Satyaki with a hundred arrows.
Deeply pierced by thy mighty son armed with the bow,
Yuyudhana became inflamed with wrath and began to
afflict thy son. Beholding the king thus afflicted,
thy sons, those mighty car-warriors, shrouded Satyaki
with dense showers of arrows, shot with great force.
Whilst being thus shrouded by those mighty car-warriors,
viz., thy multitude of sons, Yuyudhana pierced
each of them with five arrows, and once more with
seven. And soon he pierced Duryodhana with eight
swift arrows and, smiling the while, cut off the latter’s
bow that frightened all foes. And with a few
arrows he also felled the king’s standard adorned
with a jewelled elephant. And slaying then the
four steeds of Duryodhana with four arrows, the illustrious
Satyaki felled the king’s charioteer with a
razor-faced shaft. Meanwhile, Yuyudhana, filled
with joy, pierced the mighty car-warrior, viz.,
the Kuru king, with many arrows capable of penetrating
into the very vitals. Then, O king, thy son Duryodhana,
while being thus struck in that battle with those
excellent arrows of Sini’s grandson, suddenly
fled away. And the king, quickly mounted the car
of Chitrasena, armed with the bow. Beholding
the king thus attacked by Satyaki in battle, and reduced
to the position of Soma in the firmament while seized
by Rahu, cries of woe arose from every section of the
Kuru host. Hearing that uproar, the mighty car-warrior
Kritavarman quickly proceeded to that spot where the
puissant Madhava. was battling. And Kritavarman
proceeded, shaking his bow, and urging his steeds,
and urging his charioteer with the words, ‘Go
with speed, Go with speed!’ Beholding Kritavarman
rushing towards him like the Destroyer himself with
wide-open mouth, Yuyudhana, O king, addressed his
driver, saying, ’That Kritavarman, armed with
arrows, is rushing in his car towards me with speed.
Then, with his steeds urged to their greatest speed,
and on his car duly equipped, Satyaki came upon the
ruler of the Bhojas, the foremost of all bowmen.